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Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli by Departman Architecture

Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli by Departman Architecture is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl in Callitic Tlacauhtli ihuan Tlanextilizpan Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.


IztacteocuitlatlCallitic· 2026

Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli

by Departman Architecture

Client: Departman Architecture

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl Winner in Callitic Category

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The Design

About Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli

Cremma Kosuyolu ce cafetería icalihtic in mocahua ipan Istanbul, Turquía. Inin tlayecchihualiztli mochihua itech ce ye onca calli tlachihualli ica xamitl ihuan quipia nahui tlamamanaliztli. In tlacame calaqui itech in huehue caltempa coltic tlachihualli ihuan ahci campa moneuctia in café, zatepan tlehco itech ce atrium in quipia tepancalli tehuiloh ica tepoztlachihualiztli tlacencahualli ihuan xochime totonqui tlalpan mochihuani. In tlani barra motlalilia ica huehue temimilli ihuan ce neon tlahuilli tlachihualli, ihuan in tlacpac tlamamanaliztli quipia tehuilotl in ahci tlalpan ixquichca tlacpac ihuan tlahuiltin iuhqui tetlachihualli. Corten tepoztli, tlaneztoc tetzahuac tetl, tehuilotl tlapalloh ihuan cuauhtlachihualiztli tlacencahualli quinnechicoa in huehuecayotl ihuan in axcan tlayecchihualiztli.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl

Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in huel yectli, tlanextic ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Iztacteocuitlatl ca cenca cualli ihuan cenca yancuic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli, toltecayotl ihuan ixtlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli ca cenca cualli, cenca motequiuhtia ihuan yancuic. Ni dizayno in quicuic Iztacteocuitlatl quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Cremma Kosuyolu Cafetería Icalihtic Tlayecchihualiztli quiyolchicahua in tlacah, quipaquiltia ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Cremma Kosuyolu is distinguished by its ability to sustain multiple, atmospherically distinct spatial registers within a single, cohesive interior. Across three levels, the design transitions from a glass-roofed atrium with ornamental ironwork and tropical planting, to an industrial lower bar anchored by classical columns and a fluid neon installation, to an upper floor defined by floor-to-ceiling glazing and sculptural lighting objects. This spatial diversity, unified by a restrained material palette, sets the project apart as an interior of rare complexity and depth.
Dimensions & Packaging
The building comprises 4 levels, each with distinct design elements. The ground floor features exposed brick masonry, providing a sense of durability and historical context. The upper level showcases a minimalist design with Corten steel and darker tones, creating visual interest against the lighter stone base. Both levels incorporate large glass windows, allowing transparency and connecting indoor spaces with the outdoors. High ceilings create an open and airy feel, emphasizing vertical space. Black metal beams add an industrial touch, both structurally and aesthetically.
Tags
cremmakosuyolu, departmanco, departmanarchitecture,
Production Technology
The project employs a carefully considered material strategy in which industrial and artisanal production techniques are deployed in deliberate contrast. The facade utilises weathering Corten steel, allowing the exterior to develop a natural oxidised patina consonant with the building's masonry. Internally, structural elements retain exposed concrete and ironwork, while bespoke joinery, ribbed metallic bar cladding, and custom upholstered seating were fabricated to specification. The stained-glass composition and wall-mounted bas-relief figures were executed as custom craft pieces, reinforcing the interior's dual commitment to industrial precision and hand-worked detail.
Design Challenge
The principal creative challenge resided in realising ambitious contemporary interventions within the constraints of an existing load-bearing brick masonry structure. Integrating large-scale steel construction elements including the glass-roofed atrium and Corten steel facade addition into a historic building of this typology demanded bespoke structural solutions at every stage. Reconciling the building's material and structural limitations with the design vision required close collaboration between architectural, structural, and fabrication disciplines, and necessitated iterative problem-solving to ensure both structural integrity and design fidelity were maintained throughout.
Research
The design process was grounded in contextual field research conducted within the Kosuyolu neighbourhood and its immediate surroundings. The research objective was to establish a design language authentically rooted in its urban and historical context. Methodology comprised direct site observation and a systematic study of traditional Istanbul residential architecture, with particular focus on material character, spatial proportion, and ornamental detail. Findings revealed a strong vernacular identity defined by masonry, ironwork, and layered facades, elements that were subsequently translated into the interior and exterior design decisions, ensuring the project contributes meaningfully to its neighbourhood's architectural continuity.
Inspiration
The design draws its inspiration from the intrinsic architectural character of the existing buildin's neighbourhoods. The central design motive was to establish a considered dialogue between the building's historical context and a rigorous contemporary spatial language, without subordinating one to the other. The result is a deliberate negotiation in which heritage and modernity are afforded equal presence across each of the project's distinct spatial layers.
Project Duration
The design process began in early 2023, with construction completed in December of the same year in Istanbul, Turkey.
Operation Flow
Cremma Kosuyolu guides visitors through a carefully sequenced spatial journey across four levels, each offering a distinct sensory experience. Guests enter through the historic arched facade at street level, moving into the coffee bar before ascending to the glass-roofed atrium, the social heart of the space. Further levels reveal progressively more intimate atmospheres, culminating in the glazed upper floor overlooking the surrounding tree canopy. Each transition is intentional, ensuring that the space rewards exploration while remaining intuitive and welcoming in its flow.
Team Members
Gulsah Kasap
Rıdvan Celik
Image Credits
Image #1-5: Photographer / Sinan Cırak, 2024.

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